Apple tree, ‘CN B60’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct variety of apple tree (‘ Malus Domestica ’) and which has been denominated varietally as ‘CN B60’ and which produces an attractively colored apple which is mature for harvesting and shipment approximately September 19 under the ecological conditions prevailing near Ephrata, Wash.

Latin name: Malus domestica.

Varietal denomination: ‘CN B60’.

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW VARIETY

The present invention relates to a new, novel, and distinct variety of apple tree Malus domestica and which has been denominated varietally, hereinafter, as ‘CN B60’.

ORIGIN

The present variety of apple tree resulted from an ongoing program of fruit breeding. In this regard, seeds from the fruit produced by an open pollinated ‘Honeycrisp’ apple trees [U.S. Plant Pat. No. 7,197] were collected following the 1993 growing season from trees which were then growing in my orchard which is located in Worthington, Minn. This particular orchard is located in USDA hardiness zone 4B. Thereafter, the seeds were planted in 1994 and successful seedlings were cultivated and observed until the 2004 growing season. At that time, the new, promising variety ‘CN B60’ was identified and selected for further observation and for asexual reproduction. Second generation trees were made by removing budwood from the new variety ‘CN B60’ and grafting it onto EMLA 9 rootstock [unpatented]. These second generation trees were then planted in a commercial orchard which is located near Ephrata, Wash. These second generation trees have been continually observed since that time and the fruit from the second generation trees were compared and contrasted, in 2010, with the fruit produced from the original chance seedlings ‘CN B60’. It was confirmed at that time that the fruit, and other tree characteristics of the original tree appear to be established, and were transmitted through in this successful asexual propagation.

SUMMARY OF THE NEW VARIETY

‘CN B60’ is a new and distinct variety of apple tree, which is distinguishable from its maternal parent the ‘Honeycrisp’ apple tree, (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 7,197) and which is the closest variety thereto by producing a fruit which has a round, flatter shape; a later harvesting date; a higher flesh pressure; a higher sugar content; a slightly lower juice pH; and a higher titratable acid [TA] content than that found in the fruit produced by its maternal parent ‘Honeycrisp’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 7,197). In addition, the new variety of apple tree is further distinguished from its maternal parent ‘Honeycrisp’ by its fruit skin appearance and further its flesh resists browning after being cut and exposed to the ambient atmosphere. The present variety also does not develop a bitter pit at harvest time, nor following six months under common refrigerated storage conditions.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are provided, are color photographs of the new apple tree variety.

FIG. 1 depicts the original, dormant ‘CN B60’ mother tree as currently growing in the orchard of origin which is located in Minnesota.

FIG. 2 is a second generation ‘CN B60’ apple tree as seen at full bloom.

FIG. 3 depicts the fruiting characteristics of a second generation ‘CN B60’ apple tree at full harvest maturity.

FIG. 4 is a photograph showing the fruit produced by the ‘CN B60’ apple tree as compared to the fruit produced by the ‘Honeycrisp’ apple tree [U.S. Plant Pat. No. 7,197] at full harvest maturity.

The colors in these photographs are as nearly true as is reasonably possible in a color representation of this type. Due to chemical development, processing, and printing, the leaves and fruit depicted in these photographs may, or may not be accurate when compared to the actual specimen. For this reason, future color references should be made to the color plates [Royal Horticultural Society] and the color descriptions as provided hereinafter.

NOT A COMMERCIAL WARRANTY

The following detailed description has been prepared to solely comply with the provisions of 35 U.S.C. § 112, and does not constitute a commercial warrant, (either expressed or implied), that the present variety will, in the future, display the botanical, pomological or other characteristics as set forth, hereinafter. Therefore, this disclosure may not be relied upon to support any future legal claims, including, but not limited to, breach of warranty of merchantability, or fitness for any particular purpose, or non-infringement, which is directed, in whole, or part, to the present new variety.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring more specifically to the pomological details of this new and distinct variety of apple tree, the following has been observed on second generation trees that are in their third leaf under the ecological conditions prevailing at a commercial orchard which is located near Ephrata, Wash. All major color code designations are by reference to The R.H.S. Colour Chart (Fourth Edition) and which is provided by The Royal Horticultural Society of Great Britain. Common color names are also occasionally used.

TREE

-   -   -   Size.—Generally. Considered average as compared to other             common commercial apple cultivars ripening during the same             season of maturity. The present tree is growing in a central             leader type cultivation arrangement. As a general matter the             second generation trees display moderately heavy spur             development in 2010 and are otherwise considered precocious.         -   Vigor.—Considered moderate and occasionally on the light             side.         -   Tree shape.—Generally considered upright spreading.         -   Tree height.—About 6.5 feet.         -   Crown width.—About 4 feet.         -   Hardiness.—Consider hardy for USDA Zone 6(a).         -   Fruit productivity.—Considered high in relative comparison             to other common varieties.

TRUNK

-   -   -   Size.—Diameter. — About 20 cm when measured at a distance of             about 28.7 mm above the graft union.         -   Bark texture.—Generally — Considered glabrous and displaying             some netting.         -   Bark color.—Gray-brown (RHS N199 C).         -   Bark lenticels.—Generally — Present, and moderate in number.             Generally, 15 lenticels will be found in a 4 square             centimeter area.         -   Lenticels.—Shape — Oval.         -   Lenticels.—Width — About 1 mm.         -   Lenticels.—Length — About 2.4 mm.         -   Lenticels.—Color — Orange-white (RHS 159 A).

BRANCHES

-   -   -   First year branches.—Diameter — When measured at the             midpoint of growth, the first year branches have a diameter             of about 4.2 to about 6.7 mm.         -   First year branches.—Length — Variable from about 36.5 to             about 48 mm.         -   First year branches.—Color — Gray-orange, (RHS Group 177 A).         -   First year branches.—Lenticels — Considered numerous. The             branches typically have about 13 lenticels per square cm of             surface area.         -   Lenticels.—Shape — Oval.         -   Lenticels.—Length — About 0.9 mm.         -   Lenticels.—Width — About 0.5 mm.         -   Lenticels.—Color — White (RHS 155 D).         -   First year branch.—Pubescence — Present, and considered             light to moderate in abundance. Branch pubescence ranges in             size from about 1 to 1.8 mm and about 0.3 mm in width.         -   Branch pubescence.—Color — White. This color is not             distinctive of the variety.         -   First year branch.—Internodes — These are variable in size             ranging from about 3 cm to about 4 cm.

TWO YEAR OLD FRUITING BRANCHES

-   -   -   Diameter.—At the midpoint of growth, these branches are             about 9.9 mm to about 11.5 mm.         -   Two year old fruiting branch spur development.—Generally             considered heavy.         -   Spur.—Length — About 10 mm to about 21.9 mm.         -   Spur development.—Bud Size — The bud diameter ranges from             about 2.63 mm to about 4.19 mm.         -   Bud length.—About 5.75 mm to about 8.42 mm.         -   Bud color.—Gray-Brown (RHS N 199 B).         -   First year branches.—Lenticels — Numerous lenticels are             found and average about 16 lenticels per square cm of             surface area.         -   Lenticels.—Shape — Generally round and being about 0.2 to             about 0.5 mm in diameter. A few elongated lenticels may be             found. These elongated lenticels have a width of about 0.2             to 0.5 mm and a length of about 1 to about 2 mm.         -   Lenticels.—Color — White (RHS 155 B).         -   Two year old fruiting branches.—Bark Color — Gray-brown (RHS             N 199 B).         -   Scaffold branches.—Size — About 11.3 to 14.2 mm in diameter             when measured at a distance of about 10 cm from the trunk.         -   Crotch angle.—As presently trained, the new tree displays a             moderate to flat crotch angle ranging from about 70° to             about 90° from the vertical. This characteristic is not             distinctive of the present variety, however.         -   Scaffold branches.—Color — Gray-brown (RHS N 199 A).         -   Scaffold branches.—Lenticels — Numerous, and typically             averaging about 13 lenticels per square cm of surface area.         -   Lenticels.—Shape — Generally oval, though occasionally some             round lenticels may be found.         -   Lenticels.—Size — About 0.5 to about 1 mm in diameter. Oval             lenticels have a width of about 0.5 to about 0.75 mm, and a             length of about 0.5 to about 1 mm.         -   Lenticels.—Color — Orange-white (RHS 159 C).

LEAVES

-   -   -   Leaf shape.—Generally — Considered broadly acute and             upwardly folded.         -   Leaf texture.—Dorsal Surface — Considered leathery and             slightly undulating.         -   Leaf texture.—Ventral Surface — Considered glabrous.         -   Leaf sheen.—The dorsal surface has a high sheen in relative             comparison to the ventral surface.         -   Leaf pubescence.—Generally speaking it is present on the             ventral surface only, and covers nearly the entire surface,             thereof. The leaf pubescence is considered moderately fine.         -   Leaf pubescence.—Color — Gray-white (RHS 156A).         -   Leaf length.—Variable from about 80.3 mm to 101.5 mm.         -   Leaf width.—About 51.9 mm to about 71.4 mm.         -   Marginal form.—Considered bi-serrate.         -   Leaf tip.—Shape — Acuminate.         -   Leaf base.—Shape — Generally considered rounded.         -   Leaf stipules.—Generally — Present, and usually two stipules             will be found per petiole.         -   Leaf stipules.—Length — About 5.2 to about 12.9 mm.         -   Leaf stipules.—Width — About 0.4 to about 2.1 mm.         -   Leaf stipules.—Color — The dorsal surface is considered             yellow-green (RHS 147 A). The ventral surface is also a             yellow-green color as best characterized by RHS 147 B.         -   Leaf stipules.—Pubescence — The leaf pubescence is present             on both the dorsal and ventral surfaces thereof, and covers             each of these surfaces in their entirety.         -   Leaf pubescence.—Color — Gray-white (RHS 156 A).         -   Leaf blade.—Color — The dorsal surface is considered to be             yellow-green (RHS 147 A). The ventral surface has a             yellow-green color which is most accurately characterized by             RHS 147 B.         -   Mid-vein.—Generally — Prominent and having a considerable             amount of fine pubescence on, or under, the surface of the             vein.         -   Mid-vein.—Width — When measured at mid-blade it is about 1             mm to about 1.5 mm.         -   Mid-vein.—Dorsal Surface — Yellow-green (RHS 145 D).         -   Mid-vein pubescence.—Color — Gray-white (RHS 156 A).         -   Petiole.—Length — About 25.3 to 31.7 mm.         -   Petiole.—Diameter — When measured at the midpoint, it is             about 1.5 mm to about 2.6 mm.         -   Petiole.—Color — Yellow-green (RHS 145 A). This color is             highlighted at the basal end with a gray-red color (RHS 178             A).         -   Petiole pubescence.—Considered abundant and fine in texture             over the entire length and circumference of the petiole.         -   Petiole pubescence.—Color — Gray-white (RHS 156 A).

FLOWERS

-   -   -   Date of full bloom.—In 2010 was April 29.         -   Number of blooms per bud.—4 to 6, mostly 5.         -   Flower size.—Generally — Considered medium to medium large             for the species.         -   Flower diameter.—About 48 to about 53 mm.         -   Petals.—Width — About 17.7 mm.         -   Petals.—Length — About 21.8 mm.         -   Petals.—Color — White (RHS N155B). The petals further have             highlights of gray-purple (RHS 186 D).         -   Petal vein.—Color — Gray-purple (RHS 186 D).         -   Stamens.—Numbers — About 21 to about 23 stamens will be             found.         -   Filament.—Length — About 5 to about 10.2 mm.         -   Filament.—Color — Yellow-white (RHS 158 B).         -   Anthers.—Shape — Heart-like.         -   Anthers.—Width — About 2.1 mm.         -   Anthers.—Length — About 2.8 mm.         -   Anthers.—Color — When mature, the anthers are gray-yellow             (RHS 160 B).         -   Pistil.—Length — About 13.9 to about 14.9 mm.         -   Styles.—Number — Five.         -   Styles.—Form — Fused near the base and a white pubescence is             present at the union.         -   Styles.—Length — About 9.1 mm.         -   Styles.—Color — Green-yellow (RHS 1 C).         -   Stigma.—Shape — Club like.         -   Stigma.—Color — Yellow-green (RHS N 144 A)         -   Sepals.—Numbers — Five are typically found per blossom.         -   Sepals.—Form — The sepals are typically curled back toward             the peduncle.         -   Sepals.—Shape — Considered deltoid with the tip having an             acuminate shape.         -   Sepals.—Base — The base is truncated in shape.         -   Sepals.—Average Length — About 10.6 mm.         -   Sepals.—Width — About 4.2 mm.         -   Sepals.—Color — A white pubescence is present on both the             dorsal and ventral surfaces thereof. The sepal color is             yellow-green (RHS 144 A). The sepal tips are highlighted             with a gray-orange color (RHS 166 A).         -   Peduncle.—Length — About 25 to about 30 mm.         -   Peduncle.—Color — Yellow-green (RHS 144 A). A considerable             amount of white downiness is present over the entire surface             of the peduncle. This color is not distinctive of other             variety, however.

FRUIT

-   -   -   Maturity when described.—The present variety is ripe for             harvesting and shipment under the ecological conditions             prevailing in Ephrata, Wash., on or about September 19th.             This date of harvesting is about 10 days later than the             fruit produced by the ‘Honeycrisp’ apple tree (U.S. Plant             Pat. No. 7,197) when grown under the same cultural             conditions and at the same geographical location. The             ‘Honeycrisp’ apple tree is the closest variety relative to             the present new variety of apple tree.         -   Fruit form.—Generally considered uniform, and flat-round             with a moderate amount of lopsidedness. The fruit is further             lightly ribbed.         -   Fruit size.—Generally — Considered large for the species             under normal crop loads. The fruit is normally considered to             be two sizes larger than the fruit produced by the             ‘Honeycrisp’ apple tree under similar crop loads.         -   Fruit diameter.—Equatorial Plane — About 94.9 mm.         -   Fruit diameter.—Axial Plane — About 77.2 mm.         -   Fruit stem.—Thickness — Average.         -   Fruit stem.—Length — Average, at about 28.2 mm.         -   Fruit stem.—Diameter — About 2.7 mm.         -   Stem cavity.—Width — About 34.6 to about 38.5 mm.         -   Stem cavity.—Depth — About 15.9 to about 24.8 mm.         -   Stem cavity.—Shape — Obtuse.         -   Stem cavity.—Lipping — The variety occasionally displays a             weak lip.         -   Basin cavity.—Width — About 21.7 to 30.5 mm.         -   Basin cavity.—Depth — About 10.7 to about 12.7 mm.         -   Basin cavity.—Shape — Considered abrupt and not ribbed.         -   Eye.—Form — Erect and occasionally having reflexed tips.         -   Eye.—Sepal Color — Green (RHS 138 B).         -   Eye.—Sepal Texture — Downey. The downy is white (RHS 155 D).         -   Fruit skin.—Surface Texture — Considered slightly glabrous.             A scant amount of bloom is present.         -   Fruit skin.—Texture — Considered tender.         -   Fruit skin.—Thickness — Considered thin to medium in             thickness.         -   Fruit skin.—Appearance — Mostly blushed and occasionally             having a light blotchy stripe.         -   Fruit skin.—Color — The over color is red (RHS 46 A). The             under color is yellow (RHS 6 D).         -   Fruit skin.—Lenticels — Present, but considered small and             smooth. The fruit skin lenticels are more numerous towards             the calyx end of the fruit. On average about 3 lenticels per             square cm appear at the stem end, and about 15 lenticels per             square cm appear at the calyx end of the fruit.         -   Fruit skin lenticels.—Color — White (RHS N 155 D).         -   Fruit skin lenticels.—Size — Round and being about 0.2 to             about 0.6 mm in diameter.         -   Core.—Position. — Generally considered distant.         -   Core.—Line Position. — Considered clasping.         -   Core.—Diameter — About 46.4 mm.         -   Core.—Length — About 24.8 mm.         -   Core.—Shape — Considered flat conical.         -   Cell.—Numbers — Five.         -   Cell.—Form — Tufted and having narrow lines that circumvent             the cell walls.         -   Tuft.—Color — White (RHS N 155 C).         -   Cell.—Shape — Ovate.         -   Cell.—Length — About 18.2 mm.         -   Cell.—Width — About 12.9 mm.         -   Tube.—Shape — Cone like.         -   Stamen.—Position — Considered median.         -   Axis.—Considered abaxial and closed.         -   Seed.—Number — 1 to 2, mostly 2.         -   Seed.—Shape — Obtuse.         -   Seed.—Length — About 7.9 to about 8.9 mm.         -   Seed.—Width — About 4.9 to about 5.4 mm.         -   Seed.—Color — Gray-orange (RHS 177 B). The seed color will             darken to a light brown color following the cutting of the             fruit. This color is not distinctive of the variety,             however.         -   Flesh.—Texture — Consider firm, crisp, melting and juicy.         -   Flesh.—Color — Green-white (RHS 157 D).         -   Flesh.—Aroma — Apple like, and moderate in intensity.         -   Fruit.—Pressure — About 17.04 lbs. This fruit pressure is             greater than that produced by the fruit of the ‘Honeycrisp’             apple tree (U.S. Plant Patent No. 7,197) which on average             has a fruit pressure of about 13.76 pounds.         -   Brix.—The present variety produces fruit having a brix of             about 14.3. In comparison, the fruit of the ‘Honeycrisp’             apple tree has a brix which is typically about 13.8.         -   pH.—The present variety produces fruit which has a flesh             which has a pH on average of about 3.41. This pH is less             than the fruit produced by the ‘Honeycrisp’ apple tree (U.S.             Plant Patent No. 7,197) and which produces fruit flesh             having a pH of about 3.35.         -   Titratable acid.—The present variety produces fruit whose             flesh has a titratable acid level of about 0.76 g/100 ml. In             relative comparison, the fruit of the ‘Honeycrisp’ apple             tree produces fruit having a titratable acid of about 0.66             grams per 100 ml.         -   Keeping quality.—Considered excellent. The fruit of the             present variety has been kept up to six months in common             refrigerated storage with no deleterious affects noted.             Further the flesh of the new variety resists browning after             being exposed to the ambient atmosphere. Further, the             present variety does not develop a bitter pit either when             hanging on the tree or after six months in refrigerated             storage.         -   Pollination.—Any diploid apple tree blossoming in the same             season may be used to pollinate the new apple tree variety.         -   Fruit use.—Considered a fresh desert apple.         -   Disease and insect resistance.—The present variety is             considered to be susceptible to all insects and diseases             found in the region of Central Washington State.

Although the new variety of apple tree possesses the described characteristics when grown under the ecological conditions prevailing near Ephrata, Wash., in the Central part of Washington state, it should be understood that variations of the usual magnitude and characteristics incident to changes in growing conditions, fertilization, pruning, pest control, frost, climatic variables, and horticultural management practices are to be expected. 

Having thus described and illustrated my new variety of apple tree, what I claim is new and desire to secure by Plant Letters Patent is:
 1. A new and distinct variety of apple tree, substantially as illustrated and described, and which is characterized as to novelty by producing an attractively colored apple which is mature for harvesting and shipment approximately September 19 under the ecological conditions prevailing near Ephrata, Wash. 